Valve mechanism for motors of pumps



Sept. 23, 1941.

F. D. BUTLER VALVE MECHANISM FOR MOTORS OF PUMPS Filed Ma 27, 1940SBheets-Sheet l r \\VA\\ UNVENT@IR M.QMM

Sept. 23, 1941. 4 F. D. BUTLER 56,471

VALVE MECHANISM FOR MOTORS OF PUMPS Filed May 27, 1940 3 Sheets-Shee t 2A I II 3?) I 3? 54,;

58 m a I 5 2g 1 ll 22 32 5o /6 zq /7 Q'Qid] 5g 'l /8' I 25 l lg 26 I8 25k 4 Z S2 5 I 23 I I 4 Q 0 Q 0 0 4 l g V41 5 II --40 Z 2 8 H l7 IL um]ENTIER Sept. 23, 1941.

VALVE MECHANISM FOR MOTORS OF PUMPS File d May 27, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5g; i -n2, Q2

if I

f- IHNJVENTER Y Patented Sept. 23, 1941 UNETE a a n Frank David Butler,United States Navy Application May 27, 1940, Serial No. 337,450

4 Claims.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 3700. G. 757) Whilemy present invention relates in general to improvementsin valve mechanisms, of the type mentioned, it applies more specificallyto valve assemblies wherein the main valve thereof is spool shaped andis equipped with enlarged cylindrical differential valve heads, isactuated in a reciprocating manner by expansive fluid, and, iscontrolled by an auxiliary valve which is operated mechanically by andin timing with the moving elements of such motor. assembly I provide, aplurality of conically shaped valve surfaces one located adjacent theouter end of each of said valve heads, a plurality of skirt projectionsone located adjacent the base of each of said comically shaped valvesurfaces, at 5 valve chest having a plurality of different sized borediameters (corresponding to the diameters of said valve heads and saidskirt projections) extending parallel and closely adjacent to the maincylinder bore of such motor one located ad- 29 jacent each end of thelatter and having access communication therewith, a plurality ofconically shaped valve seats corresponding to and upon which saidconically valve surfaces seat (when said main valve rests at its extremeends of 25 travel), a reduced diameter projecting plunger locatedadjacent the larger of said differential valve heads, an expansive fluidaccess passage extending from the inside of the latter to the extremeouter end of said plunger, means for ena closing and thus forming a,closed chamber about the latter, and, an auxiliary valve means foropening and closing an exhaust port leading from such closed chamber tothe atmosphere for purposes of controlling the reciprocating movementsof said main valve and thereby the movements of the main piston of suchmotor.

With reference to the drawings; Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive illustratelongitudinal sections of the assemblies of the main and auxiliary valvesof my invention as applied to a modern motor of reciprocating doubleacting pump (the auxiliary valve not being shown in Fig. 5), and, Fig. 6is a transverse section through the assembly as would appear on thedotted line 6-6 of Fig. 5 and illus- 45 trates the installation of themain piston cushioning and the motor cylinder and valve chest drainValves in location relation to the valve chest and motor cylinder bores.

With reference to the numerals of the draw- In such a valve 10 adaptedto be automatically reciprocated within the valve chest 3 and to controlthe supply of expansive fluid from its source of supply, at flangedconnection 4 of such chest, alternately to each sideo'f the piston 5,which latter is reciprocatably mounted within the main bore 6 of thepump motor. This main valve I being further adapted to simultaneouslyalternately (with the expansive fluid supply cycle just mentioned)release the expended expansive fluid from the opposite end of bore 6 tothe exhaust exit connection 7 at the base of said valve chest 3. mainvalve l to have an elongated tubular shaped intermediate portion withenlarged valve heads 8 one located at each end thereof and which headshave diflerential external diameters which form (when expansive fluid issupplied to chest 3 between such heads) a means of actuating said mainvalve in one (preferably upward) direction of its travel. A reduceddiameter cylindrical plunger 9 extending an appreciable distance beyondthe outer endoi the larger valve head is provided and is. adapted to bea slidable fit within a suitable chamber lit (located in the upper coverll of the valve chest and in tandem with the bore of the latter) forpurposes of establish- 7 ing a second differential means (when expansivefluid is allowed to accumulate in said chamber ill), of actuating saidmain valve in the opposite direction of travel to that previouslymentioned. An expansive fluid supply passage I2 is provided and extendsfrom the inward or supply chamber l3 side of the larger valve headthrough the latter and plunger 9 and terminates in a restricted orificeplug M secured in the extreme outward end of the latter and locatedadjacent chamber Ill. A series of snap type piston rings l5 are providedin the outer circumferences of each of the valve heads 8 of main valve lfor sealing'purposes. A

4Ov plurality of reduced diameter skirt projections I6,

one located adjacent each of said valve heads, are provided for mainvalve cushioning purposes. These skirt projections it are each adaptedto be a. slidable fit within its respective upper or lower cylindricalchamber H and therewith to form dash-pot chambers l3 (between conicalvalve surfaces IS on valve l and conical valve seats 20) when they entertheir respective chambers H. The lower cylindrical chamber H and valveseat 20 being located in the lower ported wearing liner 2, and the uppercylindrical chamber I! and valve seat 251 being located in the valvechest cover H.

A spider type bridging Zl is provided for integrally connecting plunger9 to the upper valve head of the main valve l, and a series of circum-Such ferentially extending grooves 22 are spaced along the outer surfaceof said plunger 9 for purposes of collecting moisture and forming a sealbaffle means.

Expansive fluid access between the ends of the bore of the main cylinder6 and the ends of the bore of the valve chest 3 is provided in the formof passages 23 and via the main piston cushioning Valve 24 and combinedcushioning and cylinder drain porting 25. Drainage access being providedbetween the ends of the bore of the main cylinder 6 and. the exhaustside of the valve chest 3 through the porting 25, thence via the drainvalve 26 and drain porting 21 into the chest bore.

The flanged cover II is secured to and closes the upper end of the valvechest 3 and is provided with, a projecting portion 29 that bears againstthe upper end of the upper wearing liner 2, the upper seat 29 adjacentthe latter, and the wearing liner 39 for the plunger 9.

When the main valve I is at its extreme downward travel, as illustratedin Figs. 1 and 3, the live expansive fluid (as diagrammaticallyillustrated by arrows) flows from chest supply space I3 to beneath themain piston 5, and the expended expansive fluid above said piston (asdiagrammatically illustrated by arrows) simultaneously escapes to theexhaust connection 1. While when said main valve I is at the extremeupper end of its travel, as illustrated in Figs, 2 and 4, the liveexpansive fluid (as diagrammatically illustrated by arrows) flows fromchest supply space I3 to above the main piston 5, and the expendedexpansive fluid beneath said piston (as diagrammatically illustrated byarrows) simultaneously escapes to the exhaust connection I at the baseof chest 3.

With reference to Fig. 6 and assuming that (as illustrated) the mainvalve I is at its mid travel position in the chest 3 and that liveexpansive fluid is being supplied to chest space I3. Bearing in mindthat the upper valve head 8 is larger in diameter than the lower valvehead 8 we would assume that the effective pressure area differencetherebetween would immediately cause the main valve I to travel upwardin said chest. However should we allow live expansive fluid (suppliedthrough passage I2 and orifice plug I4) to accumulate in chamber Ill,then as the upper projected area of plunger 9 is greater than theeiiective area difference between the two valve heads 8, the main valveI would be immediately forced downward in said chest. Therefor bycontinually supplying live expansive fluid to chamher I 3 through arestricted orifice (as in plug I4) and providing a cylindrical typeauxiliary valve 32 (as in Figs. 1 and 2) or a poppet type auxiliaryvalve (as in Figs. 3 and 4) operated by the moving elements of saidmotor and adapted to close (as Figs. 1 and 3) or open (as in Figs. 2 and4) a relatively large exhaust passage 33 leading to another exhaustpassage 31 and thence to the exhaust side of chest 3, complete controlof the longitudinal movement of the main valve I can be attained andconsequently control over the movements of the main piston 5.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the auxiliary valve 32, of the assembly illustratedtherein, is operated by the adjustable tappet nuts 35 which latter areactuated by the valve rod 3| which latter is actuated by the usual valverod operating mechanism (not illustrated) operated by a crossheadattached to the main piston rod of the motor. This valve 32 has areduced diameter portion 38 which registers with and connects exhaustpassages 33 and 31 when valve 32 is in position shown in Fig. 2 andcovers passage 33 when in position shown in Fig. 1. A wearing liner 34is provided in cover II for valve 32.

In Figs. 3 and 4 the auxiliary valve 32, of the assembly illustratedtherein, is poppet valve or mushroom shaped, is adapted to be opened bythe piston 5 striking its lower end (as illustrated in Fig. 4) as suchpiston approaches the upper end of its travel, is closed by liveexpansive fluid entering the port 4| (in the boss 49) as the piston 5 isforced downward and clears said port 4| in approaching position in whichpiston is illustrated in Fig. 3. As this live expansive fluid entersport 4i it passes therefrom through the tubing connection joining thisport with the upper end of the enlarged chamber 39 and exerts itselfagainst the enlarged upper area of valve 32 therein thus forcing thelatter downward against its conical valve seat 38. A valve 42 isprovided, adjacent the chamber 39, for restrict-.

ing manually the rate of flow of the live expansive fluid into chamber39. The flow of expansive fluid into and away from chamber 39 isillustrated diagrammatically by arrows in Figs. 3 and 4, respectively.

Starting with the main valve I in the position in which it isillustrated in Fig. 5, then if it were to be forced either downward orupward (in manner previously described) from such position to positionsin which it is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 or 2 and 4 respectively,then the skirt portions I3, as they entered the chambers I'I, would trapexhaust expansive fluid in dash-pot chambers I8 and would compress thisfluid therein, thus forming a cushioning means for valve I as itapproaches the ends of its travel either downward or upward as the casemight be. After compressing such expansive fluid in such chambers I8;the main valve I would then become seated by the conical valve surfacesI9 coming into contact with the conical valve seats 20 and would formpressure tight seals at such locations.

In the construction of these valve assemblies the following should bekept in mind; The main valve should have such minimum internal diameteras not to restrict the size of the exhaust exit extending therethrough;The projected area of the upper end of plunger 9 should be of amplecapacity as not to require maximum pressure of the expansive fluidadjacent thereto for its proper operation; The differential differencesin the efiective areas of valve heads 8 should be carefullypredetermined taking into consideration the weight of the valve I; Thereshould be considerable difierence in the diameters of the orifice inplug I4 and the exhaust passages 33 and 37; The valve surfaces I 9should be ground joints with the seats 20; And, the plunger 9 should beof such length as to form a good seal with walls of chamber I9 when theformer is in its full downward travel position.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and/or used by or forthe Government of the United States of America for governmental purposeswithout the payment of any royalties (thereon or therefor.

7 Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, whatI claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a valve assembly mechanism for the motor of a reciprocating pumphaving an elongated valve chest bore extending parallel and adjacent tothe main cylinder bore of such motor, a pluend of said valve chest bore,a plurality of communication passages, one extending between each ofsaid liners and their respective ends of said main cylinder bore, anexpansive fluid supply connection having communication with the sourceof such supply and the intermediate length of said valve chest bore, anexhaust exit connection in communication with the lower end of saidvalve chest bore, and an elongated tubular main valve member havingenlarged valve heads of different outside diameters slidably mountedwithin said valve liners and covering the ports within the latter; thecombination therewith of, a flanged cover closing the upper end of saidvalve chest bore and having a reduced diameter cylindrical chambertherein in tandem with the bore of the upper of said valve liners andhaving the upper end thereof closed, a reduced diameter elongatedplunger forming a part of said main valve member and extending upwardfrom the larger of the valve heads of the latter and being a slidablefit within said reduced diameter cylindrical chamber and forming anopposition differential means, when expansive fluid is applied, to theurging means of moving said main valve longitudinally due to suchpressure being applied to said valve heads of different diameters, anaccess passage extending through a portion of said larger valve head andsaid plunger and terminating in the upper end of the latter in arestricted orifice plug secured therein, a plurality of reducedcylindrical skirt extensions one located beyond and adjacent to each ofsaid valve heads, a plurality of conical valve surfaces one locatedintermediate to each of said valve heads and skirt 7 extensions, aplurality of reduced diameter eylindrical bores one located adjacent theouter end of and in tandem with the bore of each of said ported linersand of such size as to slidably receive said reduced skirt extensions ofsaid main valve, a plurality of conical shaped valve seat surfaces onelocated intermediate each of the last mentioned tandem bores and eachbeing a ground joint surface with their respective conical valvesurfaces of said main valve, an exhaust exit access leading from theclosed end of said reduced diameter cylindrical chamber, an auxiliaryvalve means for intermittently opening and closing said exhaust exit intiming with the movement of the main piston of such motor, and combinedmeans located in the vicinit of the ends of said valve chest and maincylinder bores for cushioning the main piston of such motor as itapproaches the end of its travel and for draining the bore of said maincylinder.

2. A main valve, for the motor of a reciprocating expansive fluidactuated pump, consisting of an elongated tubular shaped intermediateportion having a plurality of enlarged tubular shaped valve heads ofdifferent outside diameters, one located at each end thereof, a reduceddiameter elongated plunger portion extending beyond and adjacent to thelarger of said valve heads, a restricted access passage extending fromthe inner side of the larger of said valve heads to the outer end ofsaid plunger, a plurality of reduced diameter conical shaped valvesurfaces one located adjacent each outward end of said tubular valveheads, and, a plurality of tubular skirt projections one extendingoutward adjacent to and from the base of each of said conical valvesurfaces.

3. In a valve mechanism for motor of reciprocating pump, a spool shapedreciprocating main valve having a plurality of valved heads of differentdiameters one located at each end thereof and each having a conicalvalve surface at its outward end, a plurality of reduced diametercylindrical skirt projections integral with said main valve and onelocated adjacent the base of each conical valve surface mentioned, areduced diameter projecting plunger integral with said main valve andlocated adjacent the larger valved head end of the latter, a restrictedcommunication passage extending throughthe larger valved head and saidplunger from the inward side of the former to the extreme outward end ofthe latter, a valve chest having a plurality of tandem bores extendingparallel to the main bore of said motor and of such size as to slidablyreceive said valved heads, skirt projections and plunger of said mainvalve, a plurality of conical valve seat surfaces one located at eachend of said valve chest intermediate the tandem bores of such size as toslidably receive said valved heads and skirt projections, a coverclosing one end of said valve chest and containing that portion of thetandem bores of such size as to slidably receive said Plunger andforming a closed chamber thereabouts the outer end of the latter,porting communication extending between each end of said main bore andeach adjacent end of said valve chest and terminating in the latter atthe'bores of such size as to slidably receive said valved heads, and,means in the form of an auxiliary valve operating in timing with themoving elements of said reciprocating pump for intermittently openingand closing an exhaust passage leading from said closed chamber to theatmosphere.

4. An article of manufacture, for motor of reciprocating expansive fluidactuated pump, consisting of a hollow spool shaped main valve having aplurality of valved heads of different diameters one located at each endthereof and each having a reduced diameter conical valve surface at itsoutward end, a plurality of reduced diameter cylindrical skirtprojections integral with said main valve and one located adjacent thebase of each conical valve surface mentioned, a reduced diameterprojecting plunger integral with said main valve and located adjacentthe larger valved head end of the latter, and, a restrictedcommunication passage extending through the larger valved head and saidplunger from the in ward side of the former to the extreme outward endof the latter.

FRANK DAVID BUTLER.

